Fire-escape.



No. 639,902. Patented Dec. 26, I899. C. MACE.

FIRE ESCAPE.

(Application filed July 8, 1899.)

(No Model.)

uonms PETERS co.. PHOTO-LYING" WASHINGTON, 0. c4

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

CELLESTIN MACE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR OF ONEHALF TO A. F. FRUHLING, OF SAME PLACE.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 639,902, dated December 26, 1899.

Application filed July 8,1899. Serial No. 728,189. (No model.)

object to provide an exceedingly simple and effective device of this description which may be permanently secured and stored in connection with a window without disfiguring the same and yet when it is necessary to use the fire-escape it may be quickly thrown from the window and will thereafter hang in position for immediate use, either for persons passing from the building to the ground or for the firemen gaining access to the room.

With these ends in view this'invention consists in the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then specifically designated by the claim.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may understand how to make and use the same, the construction and operation will now be described in detail, referring to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a section of a portion of a building, showing my improved fire-escape stored and housed when not in use; Fig. 2, a similar view showing the storage-receptacle open and the fire-escape suspended from the window in position for use; and Fig. 3, a perspective of a portion of the ladder, showing the preferred wlay of securing the rounds upon the wire cab es.

In carrying out my invention as here embodied I provide a suitable receptacle A beneath the window-casing, the top of which is closed by the bottom B of the window-frame, which-is hinged at C, so that it may be swung open, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. \Vithin this casing is pivoted the frame D, consisting of two side bars, (but one of which is shown,) and to this frame is pivoted a second frame E, of such length as to extend beyond the window-sill F, as shown in Fig. 2, for the purpose hereinafter set forth. I

G represents the ladder, which is composed of two flexible wire cables and a series of rounds secured thereto, and the upper end of this ladder is permanently secured within the receptacle by means of the staples H. The result of this construction is that when the fire-escape is not in use the ladder is folded into the receptacle and the frames D and E also swung within the receptacle, as shownin Fig. 1, after which the cover B may be closed.

Hooks I (but one of which is shown) are secured to the under side of the cover Band are adapted to receive the bottom round of the ladder when it is folded within the receptacle, the object being to keep the free end from entanglement with the remainder of the ladder, so that when the cover is swung open this end may be first removed from the hooks and thrown from the window, thereby insuring the proper and immediate adjustment of the ladder for use.

By the use of the frames D and E the ladder is held at a proper distance from the window-sill and the face of the building, so as to facilitate its use, and after the ladder is folded within the receptacle these frames may be readily stored therein, as before-described.

By the use of my improved fire-escape easy egress can be had from the room, and in the case of hotels and other large buildings when each room is fitted with one of my fire-escapes there would be but little chance of loss of life, since almost any person can descend such a ladder, and where this is not possible they could at least throw it from the window, andthereafter assistance could be had by the firemen having easy access to the room. Of course where the ladder is fitted to the upper windows of a building it will serve for the de scent of persons from the floors below when it has been adj usted for use; but I prefer that each room shall be provided with a fire-escape, since if the upper rooms were unoccupied some diificulty might be had in reaching the saine to put the ladder in use.

In the construction of the ladder I prefer that each round J shall be made of a length of pipe and that the wire cables shall pass through holes formed near the ends of the pipe, as shown in Fig. 3. Each end of the pipe is threaded and has run thereon a nut K, which when secured into place will jam the wire cables, and thus hold the round in place. This will permit the adjustment of the rounds upon the cables in constructing the ladder; but if found desirable slots may be made in place of the small holes, so that the cables may be set in these slots prior to the nuts being screwed upon the ends of the pipe, which arrangement would provide for the removal of any one of the rounds without disturbing the others.

By making the rounds of pipe they could be of convenient size to grasp without materially increasing the weight of the ladder, and thus render the use of the fire-escape more convenient, as the hands would not be injured by grasping a round of considerable size.

Having thus fully described myinveution, what I claim as new and useful is- In combination, a frame pivoted to a casing, a second frame, a pivot to which the frames are connected, the said second frame having its free end extending upwardly, a flexible ladder having one end secured to the casing and adapted to engage the pivot of the sections, as the ladder is removed from the casing, and by its Weight adjust the lower frame into vertical and the upper frame into horizontal position, as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses,

CELLESTIN MACE. Witnesses:

HARRY BIERHOFF, JOSEPH STUgKnNs'rEt I. 

